Vogel wants youth livestock shows to go on at Pa. Farm Show

State Sen. Elder Vogel Jr. wants livestock shows to go on at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, after the department of agriculture announced last week the weeklong event would be held virtually.

Vogel, R-New Sewickley, said in a statement released Aug. 25 that he’s putting together a proposal to hold a junior market livestock show. Vogel is the chairman of the senate committee on agriculture and rural affairs and a farmer in Beaver County.

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced last week that the Pennsylvania Farm Show would be held virtually in 2021. While details for the online show are forthcoming, Redding did say that no livestock competitions would be held in-person, so families would not have to purchase animals.

Vogel argued that the danger from COVID-19 spread came from the large number of visitors to the Farm Show and not from the show participants. Not only is the Farm Show an opportunity for competition, but proceeds from the sales of the livestock help young people with things like college costs, he said in the statement.

Under Vogel’s plan, shows and sales would be limited to steers, hogs, goats and lambs and take advantage of the abundant space available at the Farm Show Complex, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

“These steps would provide protection from COVID-19 spread, while giving our young farmers the opportunity to display and sell their livestock,” Vogel said in the statement.

The proposal will be sent to the department of agriculture once it is ready.